Sugar-cane harvester



May 927 H o. SCRANTON SUGAR CANE BARVESTER Filed June 19. 1925 2 Shuts-Shoot 1 May .24, 1927-. 1,630,097

H. O. SCRANTON SUGAR CANE HARVESTER Filed June 19. 1925 g shun-521m! 2 'l 'atented May 24, 1927.

sour-Han STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY 0. SCRANTO N, F JEANERETTE, LOUISIANA.

SUGAR-CANE HARVESTER.

Application filed June 19, 1925. Serial No. 38,191.

This invention relates to sugar cane harvesting machines of the sort for which Let- =ters Patent were issued to ine on April 22, 1924, No. 1,491,069; and it consists principally in certain improvements to the cutting mechanism, as hereinafter fully described and claimed, which enable the cutters to l withstand the strains they aresubjected to,

and to be easily repaired whenout of order,

' M of the other cutter but showing it raised.

a ilS a vertical section through one of the cutters and the lower part of the telescopic casing of its shaft, looking from one A side as in Fig. 1.,ai1d drawnto a larger scale. Fig. 5 is a plan view from above of a portiongof the cutter shown inFig. a. Fig. (3 is a planfview of the curve 'uard plates and cutter shaft, from below. N

The generalconstruction of the machine is similar to that described and shownxin :the said Patent No. 1,491,069. The frame 7 6 of the machine is mounted on front ground wheels 7, and in addition it has a platform 8 for the operator at its frontend. Bearings15 are secured in pairs to the frame at the sides of the machine, and vertical cutter shafts 16 are journaled inthese bearings, and havelongitudinal 'keyways 16. Bevel gears l f. are arranged between thepairs of bearings, and have keys 18 securedin their l the cutters s'ubstantially'as described in theihulos which are slidable in the -keyways 16.

The 1 gears 17 are driven in opposite-directions by any approved means as set forth :in the ,said patent. Circular cutters QOare secured on the shafts l6, and overlap each other at the center line of draft of the inachine, and form a pair of circular shears.

The cutters 20 are raised and lowered simultaneously to adjust the height of 'cut above the ground by two similar levers 3 5, suspended from the-frame by links 210 and pivot pins 42. The front ends of the levers 'a-re operatively connected withthe shafts of ,said patent, and their rear ends are connected'to a rock-shaft 14 by :means of si1nilarxarmsjatiand links at; The rock-shaft is journaled in bearings=45 onthe frame, and

top and bottom ed extends across it. An operating lever 50 is a'lsofsecur-ed to the 'rockshaft, and projects forwardly thereof instead of being aiiranged as shown in the said patent. The lever 50 is substantially horizontal, and 'it projects crosswise of the shafts 16. to a point in advance of them on the machine. it convenient for form 8.

One or more: counterbalance levers 22 are This makes the operator on the platalso secured to the rock-shaft 44, and are arranged at one or at both sides of the machine Each lever 22 projects in the op posite direction from the hand lever 50, and has ad ustable weights 24 secured on it.

These weights are desirable to counterbah ance the weight of the cutters 20, which according to this invention are made very strung and heavy. A toothed segment .25 is also secured to the rock-shaft 44, and 26 is a foot lever pivoted to the frame by a .pin 27. and having a tooth 28 which engages with the toothed segment 25 and holds the cutters 20 at any desired heightabove the ground. A leaf spring 29 is mounted on brackets SOlsecured to the frame, and normally holds the tooth 28 in engagenient with the segment.

Large sugar canes requires strong and heavy cutters to harvest them, and in order to reduce the expense due to the breakage of cutters, instead of solid cutters as heretofore used, each cutter is formed of a series of segments. Each cutter shaft 16 .is provided with antifricti on thrust bearings 31 of approved construction, arrangedabove and below the block 88 to which the forked front end 36 of its lever 35 is pivoted by pins 37.

and are spaced apart at equal distances. Each cutter section 62 has a curved shoulder 63 which bears on the periphery of the hub,

The sockets 61 are arranged radially :of the shaft 16,

and a forked member 661; which fits in they sockets 61' and straddles the web 62 between thenu The ends of the curved shoulders proj ectcircumferentially beyond the forked members to whichthey pertain, and their ges are arranged flush with the SaIClsIDQmbBIS.

The forked members (it and the webs 62 are secured together by bolts 65, and the shoulders 63 form a continuous annular projection around the hub, so that the cutter sections are tirmly and rigidly secured. but may be removed and replaced with facility.

Each cutter section has a concave recess (36 in underside, and a horizontal outer portion (37 beyond the recess arranged a little below the plane of the bottom of the hub. The sides ot the cutter sections are radial ot the cutter shaft, and at about the middle of their length they have interlocking tongues (38 and sockets G9. which hold their horizontal portions (37 securely in alinement. The tongues (38 are wedge-shaped, so that a portion of the sections can be removed and replaced without: detaching them all from the lmb. The bottoms of the two sockets (it) of each section are parallel to each other or are otherwise shaped so that each section can be slid radially indepemlently ot the other sections. it being only necessary for the tongues to lit against the. tops and bot toms ot' the sockets.

The peripheries of the cutter sections have serrated cutting edges TO, and radial serrations 71 are l'ormed in the undersides ot the horizontal portions 67 which extend inwardly of their serrated cutting edges. The cutter sections also have large V-shaped serrations 72 at their junctions, and at one or more points between their junctions.

Cutters constructed in this manner will harvest the largest sugar canes with "facility, and are not often broken, and they may be repaired in the lield should a cutter section he accidentally injured or broken. The radial serrations shorten the stumps of the cut canes, so that the stumps do not press upwardly against the rear parts of the cutters after the concave clearance portions have passed over them.

\Veeds and vines grow among the sugar canes, and cause much trouble and delay when they become wound around the cutters and cutter shat'ts as ordinarily constructed. According to this invention each cutter sbatt is inclosed in a non-revoluble telescopic cas ing. This casing comprises an upper section 75, a bottom section and a series of intermediate sections 77. The intermediate sections are slightly conical, and they slide telescopically together, as shown in Fig. 3, when the cutter shaft is raiscd. The top section 75 is secured to the frame by a bracket 78. and the bottom section is secured to the block 38.

A curved guard plate is secured to the bottom section 76. and has slots 81in it for the forked end portion 36 of the lever 35 to work in. The bottom edge of the guard plate overlaps the shoulders ('33 on the cutter sections. The frontand top of the guard plate is secured to the bottom section 76 by a bracket 82. A bar 85 is secured radially to the rear side of the bottom section 76, and a plate 86 is secured to the bar 85 and to an arm 8% on the rear side of the lower part of the guard plate. In this way the curved guard plate is rigidly secured to and supported by the bottom section To ot the telescopic casing. The bar 55, plate St and arm 8% are the main support of the guard plate 80, and they operate to hold it securely in place and out. of contact. with the shoulders (53 on the cutter. The small bracket 82 assists in supporting the guard plate in place. The upper part of the bottom section 76 is conical to correspond with the intermediate sections 77, and when the cutter shaft is lowered, as shown in Fig. 2, the various sections lit neatly together.

As the telescopic casing sections and the guard plates do not revolve they do not. wind up masses ot vines and weeds as are wound up by exposed cutter shafts. A hood St; is secured over the trout parts ol each cutter shaft and its driving mechanism above each telescopic casing.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a harvester, a supporting frame, a vertical driving shaft journaled in the frame and providcd with a cutter, a pivoted lever for raising and lowering the cutter, a toothed segment pivoted to the frame and provided with a rearwardly projecting arm, means for connecting the said arm with the pivoted lever. an operating lever connected to the said segment. and projecting forwardly of it, and a spring-controlled catch lever pivoted to the l'ramc and provided with a tooth which normally engages with the said segment. the free end portions oi the said levers being arranged conveniently adjacent to each other.

2.111 a harvester, a supporting l'rame, two vertical driving shalts journaled in the frame and provided with circular cutters, two similar levers pivotally supported by the frame and opcratively connected with the said shalt at one end, a rock-shaft mounted crosswise ot' the frame, means for connecting the rock-shaft with the other ends of the said levers, an operating lever secured to the rock-shaft, a toothed segment secured to the rock-shaft, a foot lever pivoted to the rear of the rock-shaft and projecting 'l'orwardly of it under the toothed segment and provided with a tooth, and a spring which normally holds the said tooth in engagement with the toothed segment.

3. In a harvester, a circular cutter comprising a hub and sectoi.'-sliaped cutter sections detachably secured tothe hub with their side edges arranged radially of it and provided with interlocking sockets and projecting tongues which permit the sections to he slid radially out of place when detached from the hub.

' ter sections provided with forked members which engage with the said sockets and straddle the webs between them, and means for securing said webs.

6. In a harvester, a circular cutter as set forth in claim 5, thecutter sections having also curved shoulderswhich bear on the periphery of the hub and form an annular projection around it, the ends of the curved shouldersbeing arranged to project circumferentially beyond the forked membersto which they pertain and their top and bottom edges being arranged flush with said members. 7

7.- In a harvester, a circular cutter com prising a hub, and detachable c utter sections ,secured around the hub,'each section having a concave recess in its underside and a horizontal outer portion which projects below the level of the bottom of the hub.

8. In a harvester, acircularcutter comprising a hub, and detachable cutter-sections secured around the hub and provided with serrations at their peripheries and radial serrations in their undersides around their peripheries.

9. In a harvester, acircular cutter set the said forked members to the" provided with a circular cutter at its lower end, a non-revoluble telescopic casing inclosing the said shaft and attached to the said frame, and means for raising and lowering the said shaft and casing.

11. In a harvester, a combination of parts as set forth in claim 10, the said casing comprising a series of conical sections the top one of which is secured to thejsaid frame.

12. In a harvester, a supporting frame, a vertical shaft journaled inthe frame, a cir cular cutter secured 011 the lower part of the said shaft and provided with an annular projection on its upper side, a, nonrevoluble telescopic casing inclosing the said shaft, a curved guard plate secured to the lower part of the said casing and overlapping the annular projectionon the cut ter, and means for raising andlowering the said shaft and casing.

13. In a harvester, a revoluble drivingv shaft, a cutter secured thereon and having an annular projection, a non-revoluble casing inclosing the said shaft, a curved annular guard plate forming a continuationof the said casing and overlapping the said an nular projection, and means for holding the said guard plate rigidly in place and out of contact with the said'projection.

14. In a harvester, revoluble driving shaft, a non-revoluble block operatively connected. with the said shaft, acasing inclosing the said shaft, a cutter secured on y the said shaft and having an annular proinga continuation of the said casing and overlapplng the said projectlon and pro vided with slots, fastening devices rigidly securing the guard plate to the said block, and alever for raising and lowering the driving shaft projecting through the said HENRYVO. SCRANTON,

jection, a curved annular guard'plate form- 

